Sport

‘Pepsi’ signs new contract

WORCESTERSHIRE batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore has boosted the New Road club by agreeing to extend his contract until the end of the 2016 season.

Kohler-Cadmore, who was 20 last week and is nicknamed ‘Pepsi’ by his team-mates, still had another season to run of his current deal.

But he has signed for an additional 12 months after a promising debut season of first-class cricket.

It means he has joined other young stars Joe Leach, Chris Russell, Tom Fell and Ben Cox in committing their future at New Road.

Academy product Kohler-Cadmore scored a record-breaking 1,409 runs for Malvern College during 2013 - including three 150 plus scores.

He earned a spot in the Worcestershire side at the start of this season after showing encouraging form during the tour of Abu Dhabi.

After a testing first spell of LV= County Championship cricket, Kohler-Cadmore went out of the side, scored runs in the second XI and regained his first team spot and scored 99 against Leicestershire at New Road.

He also impressed in NatWest T20 Blast cricket, making a blistering half-century against Birmingham Bears in front of a 12,000 crowd at Edgbaston.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “Like Tom Fell, we honestly believe we have got a player with a bright future in Tom.

“These guys are not just talented batters but are quite clued into cricket.

“One thing about Tom is that he is a real student of the game.

“He loves his practice, loves his preparation. He is excellent with his off-the-field preparation.

“He is training harder and will be a very hungry run-scorer in all forms of cricket.”

Kohler-Cadmore believes he has reaped the benefits of trying not to put too much pressure on himself when at the crease.

He said: “I was pleased to sign for an additional year and everything this season is all part of a big learning curve for me.

“When I went out of the side, I felt I could play at the level but every time I went out to bat, I was putting pressure on myself and thinking too much.

“You just want to do well every game and then, when you’ve not done well for a couple of games, you think ‘come on I’ve got to get some runs.’ “I got back in at Leicester and I thought just relax, take it easy and do my processes instead of getting tense about things.